Race track



Nov. 25, 1969 R. P. PERRINJAQUET 3,480,210

RACE TRACK Filed Dec. 15, 1968 INVENTOR Pam? fwr/l/rwz/ir ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,480,210 RACE TRACK Roger Paul Perrinjaquet, 18Chemins Ph. de Sauvage 1214, Geneva, Switzerland Filed Dec. 13, 1968,Ser. No. 783,664 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 21,1967,

Int. Cl. A63h 18/02, 18/12, 33/00 U.S. Cl. 23810 7 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A track for rolling toys, particularly toy vehicles, isdescribed which consists of individual track segments joinable on toanother by means of connector elementsinserted in recesses in the endsof each segment, said recesses bearing an inverse geometricalcorrelation with said connector elements. The track segments andconnector elements are constructed of flexible material such thatconvoluted shapes can be imparted to an assembled track.

The present invention is directed to a childs toy item. This toy item ischaracterized by the fact that it has at least one element made of amaterial which is flexible but non-resilient enough to keep a givenform. Such an element is utilized to shape a convoluted track for arolling toy.

By way of example, the accompanying drawings describe the toy item inaccordance with the invention, together with several variants.

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of typical configuration of assembled track.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an element portion.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of four element variants.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of two connected elements.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an element connector.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a variant of an element intended foruse with toy electric cars.

In FIG. 1 an assembled track is shown which utilizes an element 1 asshown scaled up in FIG. 2. This element has been shaped so as to form atrack for a toy such as a small scale model of car, for instance. Saidtrack shows a descending slope, a loop, and a second descending slope.The top end of the track is fixed to a table 2 by a suction mouthpiece13 and its lower end is stuck to the floor or other suitable base byanother suction mouthpiece.

Upright, telescopic, pylon-shaped poles 3 of adjustable elevationsupport the track elements 1.

This element, as ShOWn in detail in FIG. 2, has a body made fromplastics material which, in cross-section, shows a rectilinear medianportion 1a at each end of which ap pears a flange 7b. In the center ofthe lower face of the median portion 1a is a dovetailed recess 4intended to receive connectors. Elements shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have intheir center a thickened portion 90 wherein is disposed a longitudinalmetallic core 9 made from a non-resilient, deformable metal, or fromplastics material having similar characteristics, such that an assembledtrack will retain the convolutions imparted to it by manualmanipulation.

In cases of installations which require several track elements insuccession, the joining can be accomplished by means of connectorelements, or cores, shown as 12 in FIG. 8. Those cores are alsoconstructed of flexible, nonresilient material, and are shaped so thatthey may be press-fitted into the dovetail 4 shown in FIG. 2, or thedovetails 6 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Track elements shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have in their centers a metalliccore 9 which can be of circular or rectangular cross-section, as shownin FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively.

Ice

Track elements shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are intended to be used as tracksfor balls instead of cars. This type of ball or marble which childrenplay with could be made of glass, metal, earth or any other hardmaterial. With respect to very small children which are not yet oldenough to play with cars or do not yet enjoy the required proficiencyfor building a track with slanted bends, for instance, it will bepossible for them to have balls rolling by gravity inside thesemi-rounded cavities 8.

The core could also be constructed of plastics material instead ofmetal, provided that the requisite qualities of flexibility andnon-resilience are present.

With the present toy, children are given opportunities to construct bythemselves tracks intended for use with small scale models or cars orany kind of rolling toys, or even for ordinary balls.

Another variant is shown in FIG. 9 wherein the toy element has in itscenter a longitudinal guide groove to receive a pin disposed on theunderside of a toy car in order to maintain it in the direction given bythe element. Such pins are provided in small scale models ofelectrically-driven cars. It is possible for the electric cars to be fedby means of two conducting elements 14 embedded in or adhered to thetrack element, by using for instance self-adhesiveelectrically-conductive tape. Electrical connection can be effectuatedat either end of an assembled track, thus making it possible to haveascending or descending slopes. Electrically-conductive tapes can beused with any of the various cross-sections of the track elements shownin the various figures.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, itis to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration andexample only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit andscope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A track system for a miniature vehicle having freely rolling wheels;

at least one elongated track section of substantially uniformcross-section throughout its length for guiding said vehicle includingan upper face portion for supporting the wheeled vehicle, guide flangesprojecting generally upwardly from each side of said face portion andextending substantially the entire length of said track section forguiding said vehicle and maintaining it on said track section, andspaced sufficiently far apart to permit lateral movement of the vehicleon said upper face portion, and a lower portion generally underlyingsaid upper face portion and defining downwardly open channel meansextending substantially the entire length of said track section therebyimparting strength and rigidity to said track section, said channelmeans comprising flange means defining inwardly facing opposed groovesproviding a receptacle for a track connector whereby said track sectionmay be connected to an additional track section of similar cross-sectionconfiguration; and

a connector having a cross-sectional configuration substantiallyconforming to the interior of said channel means and adapted to bepartially inserted therein with its opposed edges engaging in saidgrooves so that the remainder thereof can be inserted into thecorresponding channel means of a second track section having asubstantially similar cross-section.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said track section iscomposed of a single piece of flexible plastic whereby said tracksection will smoothly traverse an unsupported span between two supports.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said flange meansdepends downwardly and inwardly, whereby a dovetail recess is formed.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connector issecurely maintained in said channel means by means of a frictional fittherebetween.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means forafiixing a portion of said track section to an elevated structure.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper face portionincludes a continuous longitudinal guide groove.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper face portionis provided with electrical conducting elements for supplyingelectricity to self-powered vehicles.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,089 9/1943 Rorer 4612,050,147 8/1936 Anderson 238l0 5 2,862,333 12/1958 Gardiol 238-103,395,861 8/1968 Kindred 238-40 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner 10R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.

